Hosea 1:1-3, “The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.”
God told Hosea to marry a harlot. I don't think Hosea was any different than men today. I think the ole boy got really happy. “Lord, can you say that again?” You heard me Hosea, go marry that pretty worldly gal you've been looking at, Gomer. I think Hosea was very happy, at first, but I sincerely don't think he saw what was coming. After bearing him three children, Gomer forsook Hosea, chasing after wicked men. That sure sounds like America today! I have heard tragic stories, one after the other all my life, from men and women alike of unfaithful spouses who betrayed, hurt and eventually abandoned them. Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” God's judgment cannot rest forever!
The Old Testament prophet Hosea was a contemporary of Isaiah, Micah and Amos. These faithful preachers lived during the time of the fall of northern Israel, whose capital was Samaria. Here is a helpful chart that I made many years ago as a teenager, showing the relationship between the different Old Testament books of the Bible. Many believers have been saved for several years, and still haphazardly read the Bible, without any organized understanding of their reading. I encourage you to study the chart, and see how the different books of the Bible interrelate with each other.
For example: We see that the historical book of 1st Chronicles (29 chapters total) only covers 28 years, but the book of 2nd Chronicles (36 chapters total) covers a tremendous time span of 449 years of Old Testament history! That's quite a difference. So we see that 1st Chronicles is very concentrated during the reign of David. The book parallels 2nd Samuel, which was written during the same time period, spanning 40 years of history. Yet, 2nd Chronicles covers everything from king Solomon's reign to the final fall and destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC four hundred years later. Brother Lester Roloff used to wisely say that the Old Testament will put iron in your blood.
The most effective way to study the Bible is the same as solving a puzzle, you go from general to specific. When solving a puzzle, we look for the flat outside pieces first, because they are the easiest to recognize and compare. Likewise, to study the Bible, first learn the details about why each book of the Bible was written. I wrote a helpful article about studying the Old Testament, which I think you'll like.
In every passage of Scripture in the Old Testament, we find three components:
- HISTORICAL LESSON (The study of history is HIS-STORY, about how God has marvelously, miraculously and mysteriously worked throughout human civilization)
- PROPHETIC LESSON (seven centuries years before Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah predicted His virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14)
- PRACTICAL (OR PERSONAL) LESSON
The following passage of Scripture is eerily reminiscent of the United States today:
Hosea 4:1-6, “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
Just like in Hosea 4:2, there is no truth in America today! Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) is right: “We're a nation of Biblical ignoramuses!” (Dr. McGee's audio commentary on Hosea 4:1-2). We are surrounded by information today, but people don't want THE TRUTH. 2nd Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” We are the greatest technological nations in history, and yet we are one of the most ignorant concerning truth! Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) was a brilliant theoretical physicist. That was his career. Yet, it is heartbreaking that such a knowledgeable man was a self-professed atheist until his death. According to the Bible Dr. Hawking almost assuredly went to Hell in his sins. I am sad about that, because I don't like to see anybody go to Hell.
We've still got a small handful of leather-lung, soul-winning, Christ-honoring, sin-fighting, people-loving, caring, fundamental Baptist pastors today, who are still preaching the truth. Sadly, the American people refuse to heed the inspired Word of God. 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Hosea 4:6 is an indictment against the religious leaders (temple priests) of Hosea's time. They intentionally rejected the knowledge of God, which caused their downfall and destruction. We see this today in 2020 in our American Bible colleges and churches. They willfully reject THE TRUTH that the modern Devil's Bibles are dangerously corrupted. They refuse to accept THE TRUTH that Lordship Salvation and “turning from your sins” is a counterfeit gospel, accursed by God (Galatians 1:6-9).
The book of Hosea was written to expose the wickedness of Israel's habitual spiritual whoredom with idols and false gods. This is what's shown by the betrayal and unfaithfulness of Gomer to her husband Hosea. It symbolizes Israel's horrible betrayal and unfaithfulness to the holy Lord. Likewise, America is guilty of spiritual adultery. Our nation was founded upon Christian principles. Our first U.S. President, George Washington, was a lifelong member of a Bible Society. Bible Societies (like Gideons International today) worked to publish and promote the Holy Bible into the hands of the people, for their own benefit and our nation's glory. Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Scripture is everywhere in the nation's capital. Yes, it is true, and I think awesomely amazing. From the proclamation in John 8:32 that “the truth shall make you free,” to a statue of the Apostle Paul down the street, these scripture-themed inscriptions, statues, and references are everywhere in our nation's capital. Hosea is a wonderful true story, that reveals the great heart of our gracious God. Hosea represents God in the story. Gomer represents humanity. Humanity has been unfaithful to God. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Sheep are very vulnerable animals, unlike the cunning wolf who sneaks up on its prey for the kill. Sheep don't have fangs, claws or other natural built i defenses. Wolves have sharp teeth! Sheep have no sense of present danger, just like people. These new Bible revisions that keep coming our are so deadly. Brother Lester Roloff said back in the 1970's that: “This has been the generation of translations and abominations, and perversions, of the Word of God!” Since making that statement, literally over one hundred new Bible revisions have been published into the English language! Since 1881 at least 254 new Bible versions have been published. That is insane! God only authored ONE BOOK!!! I believe that inspired Book to be the precious King James Bible today.
I encourage you to read and study the tremendous Old Testament book of Hosea. The humble prophet Hosea is a picture of our blessed Savior, who purchased us back from the slave market of sin. Gomer represents every sinner, who has been unfaithful to our Creator. Gomer didn't deserve to be redeemed, but it was a matter of love for Hosea. God loves you dear friend, no matter who you are. God doesn't approve of the sins in your life, but regardless of how awful they may be, God offers you forgiveness through the blood of the cross. Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” That is such a beautiful Bible verse. Come to Him now oh sinner, if you have never done so, and receive the Savior as your own!
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